Killing

"Junior brother, why have you gone quiet? Work out how many spirit stones I owe."

Miao Qian spoke with a smile.

He casually picked up every talisman on the stall and continued:

"Speaking of which, you've got quite a few talismans here. Four Blazing Fire Talismans and six Focus Talismans."

Seeing this, Jiang Hao stopped dwelling on anything else and simply replied politely:

"One Blazing Fire Talisman costs three spirit stones, and one Focus Talisman costs five.

Four Blazing Fire Talismans come to twelve spirit stones, and six Focus Talismans come to thirty, for a total of forty-two.

Just give me forty spirit stones, senior brother."

"Forty spirit stones? You really do give a good discount, junior brother." Miao Qian nodded, accepting the price.

But just as he was about to pay, he suddenly feigned surprise:

"What unfortunate timing. I didn't bring that many spirit stones today. How about this? I'll bring the spirit stones to you tomorrow.

If you're really worried, just come with me to the Heavenly Joy Pavilion. Once we reach my quarters, I can pay you."

After saying that, Miao Qian deliberately asked with a mocking smile:

"What do you think, junior brother? Why don't you come to the Heavenly Joy Pavilion with me?"

Jiang Hao lowered his eyes and sighed inwardly. How was going to the Heavenly Joy Pavilion any different from walking to his death?

At that thought, he could only give up.

Just endure it a little longer.

"You're joking, senior brother. I'll wait here for you tomorrow, then," he said politely.

"Good." Miao Qian put away the talismans and said with a smile:

"Make sure you wait here for me tomorrow. Otherwise, if I don't give you the spirit stones, you'll say I'm bullying the weak."

"Of course not." Jiang Hao shook his head.

Then he watched the other man leave.

He packed up and left as well. Some people nearby had naturally witnessed everything, but no one paid it much mind.

This sort of thing happened from time to time.

If you had no one backing you, or offended someone, this was what happened.

Night.

On the way to the Heavenly Joy Pavilion.

Miao Qian walked along the mountain path with a junior brother, saying with a smile:

"I had quite a haul today. I happened to run into someone who'd offended Master, so I taught him a lesson."

"You're really lucky, senior brother. I want to become as strong as you someday." After hearing the details, the young man at the ninth level of Qi Refining flattered him.

"All right, I'll give you one spirit stone." Miao Qian looked smug.

He had resold the talismans that day and made over thirty spirit stones.

"Will you go again tomorrow, senior brother?" the young man at the ninth level of Qi Refining asked.

"Of course. Not just tomorrow, either. I'll go every day from now on." Miao Qian's voice dropped, taking on a vicious edge:

"I'll get the other senior brothers and sisters to go too, and make him cough up every last spirit stone.

Then he'll become the next pile of bones in the Heavenly Joy Pavilion."

Seeing the change in Miao Qian's expression, the Qi Refining disciple dared not say anything more.

He had heard that this senior brother had secretly admired Senior Sister Yun Ruo, only to end up seeing her corpse.

That disciple from Heartbreak Cliff was hated by many people.

When he saw Miao Qian's expression ease, he wanted to say something.

But before he could speak, he suddenly felt someone strike him, and then he lost consciousness.

The sudden disturbance alerted Miao Qian, and he immediately looked behind him:

"Who's there?"

Squelch!

The instant he turned his head, a dagger plunged into his neck.

The unexpected attack sent him into a panic.

Just as he tried to put some distance between himself and his attacker, another dagger plunged into his neck.

Blood gushed out in torrents.

Terrified, Miao Qian clutched his neck, but he could see no one. With difficulty, he said:

"Senior, there must be some misunderstanding."

Squelch!

At that moment, a long sword burst through his body.

Someone behind him had thrust a sword straight through him.

"Senior, spare me."

Miao Qian pleaded.

Yet another long sword appeared in front of him and plunged straight in.

Squelch!

Immediately afterward, several spirit swords pierced him through different parts of his body.

Finally, a long spear pinned him to a tree.

As Miao Qian was about to breathe his last, a dark figure approached him and slowly removed his Storage Treasure.

"Why did you..."

As he asked that question, the dark figure spoke softly:

"I came to collect my money."

His pupils contracted. He was at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. Why had he died so easily at this man's hands?

After confirming that he was dead, the dark figure quickly vanished.

Much later, the Qi Refining disciple woke up. When he saw the state of Miao Qian's corpse, he was so frightened that he ran up the mountain.

Jiang Hao sat in the main room and counted the spirit stones, his brows furrowing slightly:

"Only sixty? How could someone at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment be this poor?"

As an inner sect disciple, Jiang Hao had possessed over a hundred spirit stones even during Qi Refining.

At the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, this senior brother should have received twenty or thirty spirit stones a month.

Yet he had been this poor.

And that was after reselling Jiang Hao's talismans.

Otherwise, he would have had only twenty-odd stones.

"Never mind. I still made a profit." Jiang Hao shook his head.

He had used those spirit swords deliberately, and he had deliberately left them behind as well.

After all, he had far too many. Using some up was fine.

He had not killed the Qi Refining disciple because there was no need.

Everyone had witnessed what happened that day. If the Heavenly Joy Pavilion suspected him, one more or one fewer person would make no difference.

In theory, no one would come looking for trouble, because his cultivation was there for all to see.

He was only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment. He could not possibly defeat Miao Qian, who had been at the middle stage.

Besides, he had purple qi shielding him, so he would not be discovered.

But theory was useless. It was not as though the Heavenly Joy Pavilion had never pinned fabricated charges on someone before.

"It all depends on Liu Xingchen now. I'll see where he stands."

Jiang Hao had realized that, as an inner sect disciple, he would at most be made to pay compensation for something without evidence.

And as long as Liu Xingchen showed him a little favoritism, nothing would happen to him at all.

This would also establish whether Liu Xingchen had set his sights on him.

Of course, what he feared most was evidence being found.

Early the next morning.

The moment Jiang Hao stepped outside, he saw Liu Xingchen standing there.

He really did come, he thought, betraying nothing.

"Junior brother, we meet again." Liu Xingchen pointed into the courtyard and said:

"Let's talk inside."